Folding star trivet

ABSTRACT

A trivet as may be used to elevate food serving dishes from a table top features the form of an articulated multi-pointed star. A user can easily transform its shape into a form that occupies a smaller volume that is more convenient to store. It also provides a construction that can be economically manufactured using multiples of a single common structural element.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/706,980, filed Aug. 10, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to accessories for serving foodand, more particularly, to a folding star trivet for use in elevatingfood serving dishes from a table top or other surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the folding star trivetof the present invention in a partially opened form;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the folding star trivet of FIG. 1 in aclosed form;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the folding star trivet of FIGS. 1 and 2in an open form;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view one of the common structuralelements of the folding star trivet of FIGS. 1-3 illustrating thepreferred geometric relationship between its common connecting points.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the folding star trivet of the invention is illustratedin FIGS. 1-4. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the folding star trivet featuresa series of elongated common structural elements 10, 20, 30 ,40, 50, 60,70, 80, 90, and 100, each having a common first connection point at afirst end, a second common connection point at an intermediate position,and a third common connection point at an end opposite of the first end.Embedded at the first connection point of end element 10 is a magnet10A. End element 10 further supports a pivot shaft 10B at its secondconnection point and a pivot shaft 10C at its third connection point.The elongated common structural elements may be constructed from anymaterial that can withstand high temperatures, such as wood, metal andheat-resistant plastics known in the art. In addition, it is to beunderstood that the term “pivot shaft” encompasses screws, rivets or anyother fastening arrangement that permits rotating movement between twoelements.

Similarly at their first, second, and third connection points, middleelements 20, 30, and 40 respectively support pivot shafts 20A, 20B, 20C,30A, 30B, 30C, 40A, 40B, and 40C. End element 50 respectively supportsat its first and second connection points a pair of pivot shafts 50A and50B, and a magnet 50C is embedded at its third connection point.

End element 60 is inverted and rotatably connects at its firstconnection point to pivot shaft 20A, at its second connection point topivot shaft 10B, and a magnet 60C is embedded at its third connectionpoint.

Also inverted, middle elements 70, 80, and 90 rotatably connect at theirfirst connection points respectively to pivot shafts 30A, 40A, and 50A,at their second connection points respectively to pivot shafts 20B, 30B,and 40B, and at their third connection points respectively to pivotshafts 10C, 20C, and 30C. Lastly and also inverted end element 100rotatably connects at its second connection point to pivot shaft 50B, atits third connection point to pivot shaft 40C, and a magnet 100A isembedded at its first connection point.

FIG. 2 shows the folding star trivet in a closed form in which, byrotation of the above pivot shafts, the adjacent longitudinal sides ofelements 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 bear against each other in an upperplane, and the adjacent longitudinal sides of elements 60,70, 80, 90,and 100 bear against each other in a lower plane.

FIG. 3 shows the folding star trivet in an open form in the shape of astar in which magnet 10A connects by magnetic force to magnet 100A(hidden), as does magnet 50C to magnet 60C (hidden). In this form thelongitudinal axes of elements 10 and 70 are substantially parallel, asare the longitudinal axes respectively of elements 20 and 80, 30 and90,. 40 and 100, and 50 and 60. It is to be understood that alternativefasteners known in the art may be substituted for magnets 10A, 100A, 50Cand 60C.

In FIG. 4 common element 10 is shown in an optionally wider aspect withthe folding star trivet in the open form in the context of a series ofconstruction lines 110, 120, 130, 140, and 150 respectively at thelongitudinal axes of element 10 and elements 20, 30, 40, and 50 notshown. A center point 200 is at the center of the trivet, and aconstruction line 210 connects center point 200 to an intersection oflines 120 and 150 at the position of pivot shaft 20A.

Another construction line 220 connects center point 200 to anintersection of lines 110 and 150. An offset construction line 230 issubstantially parallel to line 110 and is offset from line 110 by adistance J in the direction away from center point 200. Distance J issubstantially equal to the width of element 10 indicated by a dimensionK.

The locations of the first, second, and third connection points areindicated respectively at the positions of pivot shaft 10A, pivot shaft10B, and magnet 10C. A construction line 300 connects magnet 10C to apoint 20AF located on line 230 such that line 300 is substantiallyperpendicular to a line 310 connecting point 20AF to pivot shaft 10A.Lastly, a construction line segment 320 connects pivot shafts 10B topivot shaft 10A, and another construction line segment 330 connectspivot shaft 10B to point 20AF. Point 20AF indicates the phantom locationof pivot shaft 20A with respect to element 10 in the closed form.

The particular geometric arrangement of the first, second, and thirdconnection points on the common structural element are thensubstantially defined as follows:

The first connection point, indicated by pivot shaft 10A, is at theintersection of lines 110 and 140.

The third connection point, indicated by magnet 10C, is at a convenientposition on line 210.

The second connection point, indicated by pivot shall 10B, is at aparticular position on line 220 relative to magnet 10C such that thelength of line segment 320 is substantially equal to the length of linesegment 330.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the end edge ofelement 10 near magnet 10C is substantially parallel to line 120 andoffset from line 120 towards center point 200 by a distance S which isgreater than or equal to a distance T between line 110 and thelongitudinal edge of element 10 nearest center point 200.

As noted above, the third connection point at magnet 10C is at anyconvenient position on line 210. In the preferred embodiment illustratedin FIG. 4, its particular location on line 210 is such that it and thesecond connection point at pivot shaft 10B are on opposite sides of line110 and equidistant from line 110.

The above geometric relationship between such first, second and thirdconnection points on a common structural element may be readily appliedby one skilled in the art to the construction of any such folding startrivet.

While embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

1. A folding trivet with an open form and a closed form comprising: a.an even number of six or more elongated common structural elements, eachof said elements having a first connection point near a first end, athird connection point near an opposite end and a second connectionpoint in a central portion; b. a first said element and a second saidelement rotatably connected by a pivot shaft at their respective secondconnection points; c. the first element rotatably connected to a forthsaid element by a pivot shaft at their respective third connectionpoints and the second element and a third said element rotatablyconnected by a pivot shaft at their respective first connection points,where said third and forth elements further comprise a first pair ofintermediate elements; d. the first and second elements of each saidpair of intermediate elements rotatably connected by a pivot shaft attheir respective second connection points; e. a first connection pointof an ultimate said element substantially coincident with the firstconnection point of the first element when the trivet is in said openform and the third connection point of a penultimate said elementsubstantially coincident with the third connection point of the secondelement when the trivet is in said open form; f. the ultimate andpenultimate elements rotatably connected by a pivot shaft at theirrespective second connection points; g. the penultimate elementrotatably connected to a second element of an ultimate said pair ofintermediate elements at their respective first connection points andthe ultimate element rotatably connected to the a first element of theultimate pair of intermediate elements a their respective thirdconnection points;
 2. The folding trivet of claim 1 wherein a fastenerat the first connection point of the first element releasably connectsto a fastener at the first connection point of the ultimate element whenthe trivet is in said open form.
 3. The folding trivet of claim 2 inwhich the fasteners are magnets.
 4. The folding trivet of claim 1wherein a fastener at the third connection point of the second elementreleasably connects to a fastener at the third connection point of thepenultimate element when the trivet is in said open form.
 5. The foldingtrivet of claim 4 in which the fasteners are magnets.
 6. The foldingtrivet of claim 1 wherein the number of pairs of intermediate elementsis one and the trivet has three external points in said open form. 7.The folding trivet of claim 1 wherein the number of pairs ofintermediate elements is two or more and the trivet in said open formhas a number of external points equal to two plus the number of pairs ofintermediate elements, and adjacent pairs of intermediate elementsrotatably connect to each other at their adjacent respective first andthird connection points.
 8. The folding trivet of claim 1 in which inthe closed form the sides of alternate common structural elementssubstantially contact each.
 9. The folding trivet of claim 8 in whichthe second connection point of each element is equidistant from thefirst connection point of said element and a phantom point that is: a.On a line substantially parallel to a longitudinal element axiscontaining the first connection point and laterally offset from saidaxis by a distance away from the trivet center substantially equal tothe width of said element; and b. at a position such that a line betweenthe first connection point and said phantom point is substantiallyperpendicular to a line between the third connection point and thephantom point.
 10. The folding trivet of claim 8 in which the number ofexternal points is five or more and in which in the open form thelongitudinal axis of each element is substantially parallel with thelongitudinal axis of the adjacent element to which the third connectionpoint of said element connects.
 11. The folding trivet of claim 10 inwhich the second connection point of each element is on a line betweenthe substantial center of the trivet when in open form and a point ofintersection between the longitudinal axis of said element and thelongitudinal axis when in open form of the adjacent element to which thesecond connection point of said element connects.